This quote from the article is less encouraging for the prospect of new development, "The first version of the device which we're currently using is a bit too expensive and has memory, disc-drives and all sorts of things we don't need," he says. "We're planning that our mark two will be a different design. It will essentially be a dumb terminal. All we really need is two active screens, a video camera and a microphone."

yes, in the first experiment they give the device for free to the kids, but when things would go on a larger scale, then they will need cheaper devices than the edge. Seems understandable.
But at present, the experimentation is made with the edges

This quote from the article is less encouraging for the prospect of new development, "The first version of the device which we're currently using is a bit too expensive and has memory, disc-drives and all sorts of things we don't need," he says. "We're planning that our mark two will be a different design. It will essentially be a dumb terminal. All we really need is two active screens, a video camera and a microphone."

I was going to quote that exact same passage, Glow. Looks like he wants to take the guts out of our beautiful machines. It does make sense, as Lorenzoens says, but seems sad to me. I still think the EE could/should have been marketed to professionals and booklovers!

Isn't that the truth. I never even heard of the eDGe until last year. I was actually researching on Amazon for an e-reader for my son for school and I just happened to run into the Pocket eDGe. I was intrigued and the rest is history. I wonder how many other great products have fallen by the wayside because the companies didn't budget enough money to let people know about them.